There will be events throughout the week culminating with the Suffolk Armed Forces Day celebration, which takes place on Saturday June 28 from 11am to 4pm at Christchurch Park’s Mansion Lawn in Ipswich.
As the new Armed Forces Commissioner for Suffolk, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the members of Suffolk’s Armed Forces Community, the Armed Forces Covenant Board, and the many supporting organisations who have made me feel so welcome in my new role.
Suffolk County Council, and its armed forces champion Councillor Mick Fraser, have been extremely supportive as I settle in to my role and to whom I am very grateful.
As I begin attending events across the county, I am very much looking forward to meeting the individuals and organisations who dedicate themselves to ensuring that our Armed Forces personnel, Reservists, Veterans, and their families are not disadvantaged by living or working in Suffolk.
In my role as Chair of the Suffolk Armed Forces Covenant Board, I would also like to take this opportunity during Armed Forces Week to share with you three key veteran-focused projects that the Board is advancing in the coming years.
First, we are committed to strengthening collaboration between statutory and charity sectors. By improving understanding between service and civilian organisations, we aim to enable quicker and more accurate signposting to support for those in need across the county.
Second, we will be supporting the new VALOUR network, as announced by Alistair Carns DSO OBE MC MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Veterans and People).
This initiative will bring together housing, employment, and health services to deliver easier access to care and support for veterans in Suffolk through regional networks.
Third, we will continue to encourage employers, local government, and statutory bodies in Suffolk to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and participate in the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme—an important way to recognise and celebrate their support for the Armed Forces Community.
Suffolk is proud to be home to a number of Armed Forces units. These include a small Royal Navy detachment and the Army’s 7 Aviation Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, 3 & 4 Regiment Army Air Corps at Wattisham Flying Station; 23 Parachute Engineer Regiment, 28 Engineer Regiment (CBRN), and 70 Gurkha Field Squadron, Royal Engineers at Rock Barracks in Woodbridge; and RAF Honington, which hosts 1 Sqn RAF Regiment, the RAF Force Protection Force HQ, the Specialist Police Wing, and 1 (Tactical) Police Squadron.
We also have six Reserve units across the county for both the Army and RAF. In addition, we value the contribution of our American partners—USAF personnel and families stationed at RAF Mildenhall and Lakenheath—who are an integral part of our Suffolk communities.
In total, Suffolk is home to around 3,340 UK military personnel, 2,540 service family members and 415 civilians supporting the UK Armed Forces.
Every one of these individuals plays a vital role in keeping our country safe, and for that, we are deeply grateful.
There are an estimated 30,000 veterans, of whom about 9,500 are of working age. These are primarily based around Stowmarket, Bury St Edmunds, and Woodbridge.
I would like to thank the Lord Lieutenancy of Suffolk, the East Anglia Reserve Forces and Cadets Association, and the many charities and partners who support our Armed Forces Community.
In particular, I thank all our local councils and our Armed Forces Champions for the services they provide and for their vital leadership as part of the Armed Forces Covenant Board.
In this Armed Forces Week, let us all reflect on the courage, service, and dedication of our Armed Forces—past and present—and recommit to supporting them in every way we can.
